How often would a watch service be needed in a multiple Watch Collection???

[Euge]

So I guess a lot of us own several or more than 2 watches....

I’ve heard the watch service recommendation period varies from watch to watch,
Maybe 5-10 years or even until is not keeping the time......

Sending a watch for service hurts in two ways, the money and the time without the watch, at least to me.

But what happens if you have multiple watches???
Sometimes I don’t wear some watches for 3-6 months and then put them back on the rotation.
Because my job sometimes I only carry some of my watches and leave the others at Home....

So I was wondering if this will extend the timing for service for the watches on ones collection.....

Has anyone asked this to a watchmaker or RSC???








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[exador]

Mechanical watches don't wear when not being worn. Fix when broke.

[Euge]

Originally Posted by exador

Mechanical watches don't wear when not being worn. Fix when broke.

Thanks!!! I agree no use no wear on the gears,
I’ve always also thought fix when broke....

But what about the lubrication and lack of use for long periods?


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[othertbone]

Originally Posted by Euge

So I guess a lot of us own several or more than 2 watches....

I’ve heard the watch service recommendation period varies from watch to watch,
Maybe 5-10 years or even until is not keeping the time......

Sending a watch for service hurts in two ways, the money and the time without the watch, at least to me.

But what happens if you have multiple watches???
Sometimes I don’t wear some watches for 3-6 months and then put them back on the rotation.
Because my job sometimes I only carry some of my watches and leave the others at Home....

So I was wondering if this will extend the timing for service for the watches on ones collection.....

Has anyone asked this to a watchmaker or RSC???








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Watches do not need service unless they are not working properly. There is no timeframe. 5-10 years is just someone estimating a time till an issue may pop up. I have 10+ year old watches that run perfectly.

[kieselguhr]

I keep life simple. Rolex: 10 years from the last service. Tudor: 5 years from the last service. The omega, and iwc never made it to service intervals

I only buy what I can afford to maintain.

[thejerseyrock]

Originally Posted by kieselguhr

I keep life simple. Rolex: 10 years from the last service. Tudor: 5 years from the last service. The omega, and iwc never made it to service intervals

I only buy what I can afford to maintain.

Id be curious, in the experience of TRF members, how does AP stack up in this regard?

[ibz_s_b]

Originally Posted by thejerseyrock

Id be curious, in the experience of TRF members, how does AP stack up in this regard?

I've heard £1,000-£1,200 for an AP service!

My friend had a Royal Oak Chrono, only owned it for a few months and one day decided to actually test out the Chrono function. Turned out the Chrono function wasn't working, it apparently left the factory faulty! It had to be sent back to AP (under warranty) but again he was without his watch for about 2 months!

[scombs263]

Originally Posted by exador

Mechanical watches don't wear when not being worn. Fix when broke.

Agreed.............

[thejerseyrock]

Originally Posted by ibz_s_b

I've heard £1,000-£1,200 for an AP service!

My friend had a Royal Oak Chrono, only owned it for a few months and one day decided to actually test out the Chrono function. Turned out the Chrono function wasn't working, it apparently left the factory faulty! It had to be sent back to AP (under warranty) but again he was without his watch for about 2 months!

Thanks, indeed Ive heard about the cost (didn't know about the wait)... but also still curious to hear more thoughts on how long the service interval is - recommended versus actual. (I would hope three months is a rare anomaly... FWIW, I have an 15400 - 4 years, runs great no issues, but I have a diver - 3 yrs -and the date set is having some issues)

[123Blueface]

Reminds of people buying an expensive car that pushes them to their extreme means and then worry about repairs,
Comes with the territory, service when needed.

[ibz_s_b]

Originally Posted by thejerseyrock

Thanks, indeed Ive heard about the cost (didn't know about the wait)... but also still curious to hear more thoughts on how long the service interval is - recommended versus actual.

Well from what I've heard from multiple people, manufacturers such as Patek and AP who make beautiful movements but are not as robust as Rolex require a bit more care so I suspect it's circa 5 years compared to Rolex's 10 years.

Hopefully someone could chime in soon!

[aasubo]

I have like my own system of fix when broke, but if it’s a loooonnnggg time without maintenance, do a proactive one.

For example, I was able to by a nearly NOS 18038 DD, that had bee lying in the cupboard for like 25 years and was hardly worn at all before, it is from 1981.

I put it on the timegrapher and it ran dead-on plus +1s/d. However it was not waterproof anymore when checking at my AD. Had it serviced then and the watchmaker said, it was dead dry and not one single drop of moisture was found inside the movement.

Ergo, don’t fix until broke, but after 20-25 years it should go to maintenance to avoid very expensive services.

I have multiple DJs that ran well within reasonable limits for nearly 30 years without service, but worn in rotation with other pieces.

Br
Torsten

[Euge]

Originally Posted by aasubo

I have like my own system of fix when broke, but if it’s a loooonnnggg time without maintenance, do a proactive one.



For example, I was able to by a nearly NOS 18038 DD, that had bee lying in the cupboard for like 25 years and was hardly worn at all before, it is from 1981.



I put it on the timegrapher and it ran dead-on plus +1s/d. However it was not waterproof anymore when checking at my AD. Had it serviced then and the watchmaker said, it was dead dry and not one single drop of moisture was found inside the movement.



Ergo, don’t fix until broke, but after 20-25 years it should go to maintenance to avoid very expensive services.



I have multiple DJs that ran well within reasonable limits for nearly 30 years without service, but worn in rotation with other pieces.



Br

Torsten

Thanks Very Much!!!!


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[Rollright]

Unless it's a daily wearer, I think you could get 10 years + out of them. The watches I purchased pre-owned probably haven't been serviced in about 10 years and are still working great (especially my Rolex datejust).

I have an Omega seamaster chronograph that I serviced in 2008 and it's still working fine as well.

I might pick up these watches every 3-6 months. If I wore them more often, I'd guess that service would be required sooner.

Now as for water resistance, I would probably not trust it as the gaskets could get dried out way before 10 years.

I would assume that newer watches should last at least 10 years of regular use. Omega with the coaxial escapement is supposedly designed to last without frequent service intervals. The first gen hybrid eta coaxial weren't that great but these newer movements seem to be awesome. And I think the newer Rolexes are probably designed very well also.

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[Ssunnylee24]

It depends on your personality here.
When I picked up a 1998 Sea Dweller that wasn't serviced in the past, I sent it right away.
It didn't have any problems, but I wanted to wear a watch that has been serviced.

[Nephro]

Originally Posted by ibz_s_b

I've heard £1,000-£1,200 for an AP service!

My friend had a Royal Oak Chrono, only owned it for a few months and one day decided to actually test out the Chrono function. Turned out the Chrono function wasn't working, it apparently left the factory faulty! It had to be sent back to AP (under warranty) but again he was without his watch for about 2 months!

I had to have my AP Diver serviced for $1200 and my Safari ROO serviced for $1900 (major movement stuff) on one occasion and another time for less. I don’t remember exactly how much it was the second time around. Pricey stuff

I haven’t had to service any of my other watches. Some are 10yrs old.

[SkyJuice]

Originally Posted by exador

Mechanical watches don't wear when not being worn. Fix when broke.

+1
Do look out for lub oil is not drying out. A trip to an honest watchmaker will be able to sort that out every few years.

[In-Cog-Neeto]

This is a good topic

[importstunna]

Originally Posted by SkyJuice

+1
Do look out for lub oil is not drying out. A trip to an honest watchmaker will be able to sort that out every few years.

How do we ensure the oil is not drying out if the watch is running correctly?

OP - I have a 2008 16610 that has never been serviced, and runs perfectly. RSC says to keep waiting until something feels wrong before bringing it for service. FWIW I have rotated 3-5 watches throughout its lifetime.

[logo]

Originally Posted by thejerseyrock

Id be curious, in the experience of TRF members, how does AP stack up in this regard?

Also curious - price point for service must be higher for PP and AP, which is to be expected and ok given the higher cost for the watch, but the bigger concern in my view is the frequency and severity in which it needs to go for service. If it's in the 5-10 year range for routine stuff and generally holds out well to daily wear and is built strong, then no problem by me for the extra cost. But if it can't handle the slightest breeze and is always going to the shop for pricey repairs then I would be displeased. Anyone with thoughts/experience with this?

[SearChart]

Just service when it's acting up, could be 10-15 years in your case.

[Adha3881]

Does having your watches on winders make any difference? Meaning if I have my watches on winders does that get considered as usage?

[Euge]

Originally Posted by Adha3881

Does having your watches on winders make any difference? Meaning if I have my watches on winders does that get considered as usage?

This will wear them as if you use them daily.....
That’s why I don’t have one, plus I like setting the time and date when they get on the rotation.



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[Euge]

Originally Posted by SaiN

I haven’t had to service any of my other watches. Some are 10yrs old.

I also haven’t serviced my watches and some are little bit more than 10 years old...

That’s why I’m assuming having multiple watch rotation makes your watches wear less, but at the end someday they’ll need service.... 15 years maybe??? Until they don’t keep time??? Oil dries??? Or have to change the seals?



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[Euge]

Originally Posted by importstunna

How do we ensure the oil is not drying out if the watch is running correctly?



OP - I have a 2008 16610 that has never been serviced, and runs perfectly. RSC says to keep waiting until something feels wrong before bringing it for service. FWIW I have rotated 3-5 watches throughout its lifetime.

Thanks!!! I also have some watches around 10+ years keeping perfect time...


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[Chiboy]

Interesting topic....

I have sometimes wondered about those with giant collections. Do they have 4 or 5 watches getting serviced at any one time? lol I think that would drive me nuts!

[Euge]

Originally Posted by SearChart

Just service when it's acting up, could be 10-15 years in your case.

Thanks!!! That’s what I’m expecting maybe 10-15 years.


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[sambb]

doesnt risk go up if you wear it underwater,,, it may not be sealed anymore

[Seibei]

Originally Posted by exador

Mechanical watches don't wear when not being worn. Fix when broke.

A lot of people insist on keeping their watches on winders and regularly fiddling with their crowns, so your mileage may vary.

I have only once in my life had a watch serviced and that is because it was well and truly broken. Don't throw money away on services that are not needed.

[Seibei]

Originally Posted by Adha3881

Does having your watches on winders make any difference? Meaning if I have my watches on winders does that get considered as usage?

Yes.